Since the first anniversary of the 9/11 attacks I've spent some time thinking about how this day will be commemorated. I wonder if in 50 years it'll become more like Pearl Harbor Day -- a moment of brief reflection, at best, for what was supposed to live in infamy -- or maybe something even less meaningful, like many of our national holidays have become.

When I wrote about this in 2002, the story included a quote from Stanley Friedman, who that day was out in the hills hiking. He had a pretty good summation of what 9/11 had already become:

"This is going to be a day of speeches and photo opportunities and so on and so forth," said Friedman, a 75-year-old cartographer from Mercer Island. "It's primarily a politician's day."

Today in The News Tribune, Pete Callaghan says we are supposed to call today "Patriot Day." But he sees it like Friedman did. He says "it may as well be Politics Day."

The primary form of commemoration -- in Washington, D.C., at least -- will be to take political shots disguised as lessons learned.

Under the cover of honoring the dead, too many will exploit them for partisan gain. They will reference one of the most potent symbols in American history to paint their own beliefs as noble and their enemies' beliefs as crass.
Here's Callaghan's plea:

To honor those who died on 9/11, how about we agree not to exploit them for political gain for a full 24 hours? It's hardly a sacrifice, given that there are 364 other days -- 365 in presidential election years. Make Patriot Day about patriots, not partisans.

Sounds like a good idea. I looked this morning at the websites of the national political parties and their campaign committees. It seems to me that only Howard Dean at the Democratic National Committee is making an overt partisan point on this day. His statement says:

"On the sixth anniversary of September 11, we honor those who were killed in those tragic attacks, the family and friends who still grieve their loss, and the survivors who continue to suffer. On that day, our country and our world changed forever. Today, Democrats also renew our commitment to fighting the real war on terror. Six years after the attacks, we are not as safe as we should be. We remain committed to fighting al Qaeda where they are and implementing policies that make our country safer and more secure."

Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan doesn't mention party in his statement:

"Six years ago, terrorists attacked the United States of America. The searing memories will never fade for most Americans, and for the families and friends of those we lost, neither will the sorrow. We should never forget the tremendous bravery we saw that day, or the outpouring of kindness and generosity from every state, every county, and every city in the days and weeks that followed.

"Today, thousands of our brave young men and women are still fighting to keep our enemies from striking us again. Our thanks go out to them, and to everyone who is working to make sure we never see another 9/11."

Are there politicians exploiting this day? Help me keep track and use the comments to post examples you find today. With the Senate hearing the Iraq surge report today I am sure there will be numerous references to this day.

There's nothing wrong with remembering and commemorating 9/11. I wouldn't want the day ignored. But is it acceptable today to try to make partisan points off the anniversary of the tragedy?